Stacking game system

ABSTRACT

A game has a plurality of game pieces that are configured to be stacked upon one another in a loosely interconnected fashion that permits the stack of game pieces to tumble once the stack becomes unbalanced or unstable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/720,187, filed Aug. 21, 2018, and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/417,322, filed May 20, 2019, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stacking game system and, more particularly, pertains to players exercising skill and imagination in building multi-dimensional rising structures. The rising structures are built from various shaped game components. The exercising and the building are done in a safe, creative, and economical manner.

Description of the Prior Art

The use of building games and balancing puzzles are known in the prior art. More specifically, building games and balancing puzzles previously devised and utilized for the purpose of building, balancing, and stacking game pieces are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

While known games and puzzles fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe a stacking game system for players to exercise skill and imagination in building multi-dimensional rising structures from various shaped game components. Additionally, these known games and puzzles do not describe a stacking game system which can be utilized for educational and therapeutic benefits.

In this respect, the stacking game system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides a game system primarily developed for the purpose of players exercising skill and imagination in building multi-dimensional rising structures from various shaped game components, exercising of skill and the building of rising structures are done in a safe, creative, and economical manner.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved stacking game system which can be used for exercising skill and imagination in building multi-dimensional rising structures from various shaped game components. Further, it would be desirable to provide a stacking game system which can be utilized for educational purposes and for therapeutic benefits. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of stacking games and balancing puzzles of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved stacking game system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved stacking game system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, from a broad perspective, first provided are a plurality of base pieces. Each base piece has at least one base projection and at least one base recess. Each base recess is adapted to removably receive at least one base projection or at least one base recess. At least two base pieces are coupled together to form a multi-dimensional base member. The base member is positioned on a recipient playing surface.

A plurality of building pieces are provided. Each building piece has at least one building projection and at least one building recess. Each building recess is adapted to removably receive at least one building projection or at least one building recess. The plurality of building pieces are adapted to be positioned on the base member to unsystematically form a stack until the stack topples over. The total number of building pieces is greater than the total number of base pieces.

A plurality of wild card pieces are provided as alternate building pieces. Each wild card piece has at least one wild card projection and at least one wild card recess. Each wild card recess is adapted to removably receive at least one projection or at least one recess of any game piece. The total number of wild card pieces is less than the total number of building pieces.

The system includes a deck of game cards. Each of the game cards has a common back face and a front face with indicia. The indicia on each game card has a shape which corresponds to a specific building piece or a specific wild card piece.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, configurations, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved stacking game system which has all the advantages of the prior building games and balancing puzzles of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved stacking game system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved stacking game system which is of durable and reliable constructions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stacking game system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such stacking game system economically available.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stacking game system for exercising skill and imagination in building multi-dimensional rising structures from various shaped game components. The exercising and the building are done in a safe, creative, educational, and economical manner.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the stacking game system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention showing the game system being played on a recipient playing surface.

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the base pieces.

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration showing the base pieces coupled together to form a multi-dimensional base member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of the building pieces.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of the wild card pieces.

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of an alternate embodiment of the invention showing the game pieces formed with alphanumeric shapes.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved stacking game system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

The present invention, the stacking game system 10, is comprised of a plurality of components. In their broadest context such include base pieces, building pieces, wild card, and a deck of game cards. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

In the preferred embodiment of the stacking game system, designated by reference numeral 10, first provided are two base pieces 14. Referring to FIG. 2, each base piece has at least one base projection 16 and at least one base recess 18. Each base recess is adapted to removably receive at least one base projection. Each base recess is also adapted to removably receive at least one base recess. Prior to starting a game, the base pieces are coupled together to form a base member 20. The base member is then positioned on a recipient playing surface 22. Each base piece has a different amorphic shape and size which allows various base member configurations.

Provided next are twenty-two building pieces 24. Referring to FIG. 4, each building piece has at least one building projection 26 and at least one building recess 28. Each building recess is adapted to removably receive at least one building projection. Each building recess is also adapted to removably receive at least one building recess. Each of the twenty-two building pieces are adapted to be positioned sequentially on the base member and other building pieces. The twenty-two building pieces are formed of eleven different amorphic shapes with two building pieces corresponding to each shape.

Three wild card pieces 30 are provided next. The wild card pieces function as alternate building pieces. Each of the three wild card pieces are formed of different amorphic shapes to add various elements of game difficulty. Each wild card piece has at least one wild card projection 40 and at least one wild card recess 42. Each wild card recess is adapted to removably receive at least one projection of any other game piece. Each wild card recess is also adapted to removably receive at least one recess of any other game piece.

During play, the building pieces and wild card pieces are unsystematically positioned and balanced on the base member to form a stack. One by one, additional building pieces and wild card pieces are added to the stack until the stack topples over.

Lastly provided is a deck of game cards 32. Each game card has a back face 34 of a common configuration. Each game card has a front face 36 with indicia 38. The indicia has a shape which corresponds to each of the twenty-two building pieces and each of the three wild card pieces. On at a time, the game cards are randomly selected during play to determine which game piece a player must add to the stack.

The base, building, and wild card game pieces are preferably made from a rigid material such as wood or compositions which consist of wood-like materials. However, the game pieces may alternatively be formed from injected plastic or other similar rigid polymers.

In addition to shape and size, the base, building, and wild card game pieces may have specific colors which correspond to the indicia on game cards for increasing game piece distinguishability.

In the preferred embodiment, the stacking game system may be played alone or as a contest between two or more players or teams by rules of the game as follows:

1. Locate a sturdy playing surface.

2. Choose any player to be a dealer. The dealer may also be referred to as the master builder. The dealer selects at least two base pieces to construct a multi-dimensional base member of any desired configuration.

3. When constructing the base member, ensure the base pieces are interlocked and fully coupled before placing the base member on the playing surface.

4. The dealer shuffles the deck of the game cards and positions each of the game cards face down in a randomized pile. The dealer then positions the building pieces and wild card pieces around the base member.

5. The first player located to the left of the dealer starts the stacking game by selecting a game card from the pile. The indicia on the selected game card indicates which game piece the player must position on top of the base member to begin forming a stack.

6. A player selecting a game card which indicates a building piece, with one hand, must position that specific game piece on the base member or on previously stacked game pieces in any configuration such that the game piece does not contact the playing surface or cause another stacked game piece to fall from the stack.

7. A player selecting a game card which indicates a wild card piece, with one hand, may choose any wild card piece that has not been stacked to position on the stack.

8. A player has successfully positioned the indicated game piece on the base member if the game piece is not contacting the playing surface and has not caused another stacked game piece to fall from the stack onto the playing surface.

9. After a player successfully positions a game piece on the stack, that player keeps the selected game card which counts as one point. The player located to the left of said player is next to play.

10. The playing sequence continues in the clockwise pattern until a player causes at least one game piece to fall from the stack and that game is over. When the stack falls, the player with the highest number of cards wins the game.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention 100, a plurality of game pieces 102 are provided. Each game piece is formed with a different alphanumeric configuration. Each game piece has at least one game piece projection 104 and at least one game piece recess 106. Each game piece recess is adapted to removably receive at least one game piece projection. Each game piece recess is also adapted to removably receive at least one game piece recess. The alphanumeric configurations provide a game system which can be used for educational benefits.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, it is to be to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A stacking game comprising: a plurality of game pieces configured to be stacked upon one another to form a stack of loosely interconnected game pieces, the plurality of game pieces having a base piece and a plurality of building pieces; the base piece having a plurality of base projections and a plurality of base recesses, at least two of the base projections having a different shape from each other; each building piece having a plurality of building projections and a plurality of building recesses, at least two of the building projections having a different shape from each other; wherein each of the plurality of base recesses is configured to removable receive a building projection of a building in a loose interconnection therewith; wherein each of the plurality of building recesses is configured to removable receive a building projection of a separate building piece in a loose interconnection therewith; and wherein at least one building piece has at least one building projection configured such that when the building projection is received by a base recess of the base piece or a building recess of a separate building piece, the at least one building piece is hung from the base piece or the separate building piece.
 2. The stacking game of claim 1, wherein the at least one building projection has a stem with a circular shaped end.
 3. The stacking game of claim 1, wherein the at least one building projection has a hooked stem.
 4. The stacking game of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of wild card pieces, each of the wild card pieces having a different shape from each other, each wild card piece having a plurality of wild card projections and a plurality of wild card recesses, each wild card recess configured to removably receive a building projection or a base projection in a loose interconnection therewith, and each wild card projection configured to be removably received by a building recess or a base recess in a loose interconnection therewith.
 5. The stacking game of claim 1, wherein the game pieces are formed of amorphic shapes.
 6. The stacking game of claim 1, wherein each game piece has a pair of opposing broad faces separated by a thickness and a peripheral edge, and wherein the game pieces are configured to be stacked in a nonplanar stack of game pieces with broad faces of game pieces laying on different, intersecting planes.
 7. A stacking game comprising: a plurality of game pieces configured to be stacked upon one another to form a stack of loosely interconnected game pieces, the plurality of game pieces having a base piece and a plurality of building pieces; the base piece having a plurality of base projections and a plurality of base recesses, at least two of the base projections having a different shape from each other; each building piece having a plurality of building projections and a plurality of building recesses, at least two of the building projections having a different shape from each other; wherein each of the plurality of base recesses is configured to removable receive a building projection of a building in a loose interconnection therewith; wherein each of the plurality of building recesses is configured to removable receive a building projection of a separate building piece in a loose interconnection therewith; wherein at least one building piece has at least one building projection is configured such that when the building projection is received by a base recess of the base piece or a building recess of a separate building piece the at least one building piece is hung from the base piece or the separate building piece; wherein the at least one building projection has a stem with a circular shaped end or a hooked stem; wherein each game piece has a pair of opposing broad faces separated by a thickness and a peripheral edge, and wherein the game pieces are configured to be stacked in a nonplanar stack of game pieces with broad faces of game pieces laying on different, intersecting planes; and wherein the game pieces are formed of amorphic shapes.
 8. The stacking game of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of wild card pieces, each of the wild card pieces having a different shape from each other, each wild card piece having a plurality of wild card projections and a plurality of wild card recesses, each wild card recess configured to removably receive a building projection or a base projection in a loose interconnection therewith, and each wild card projection configured to be removably received by a building recess or a base recess in a loose interconnection therewith. 